Imitating Mary:Ten Marian Virtues for the Modern Mom

In this first and only book to offer Mary’s life as a template for living as a faithful Catholic mother today, the Mother of God is presented as the ideal guide for the vocation of Catholic motherhood. A new addition to the CatholicMom.com Book series, Imitating Mary unpacks Scripture and Catholic tradition to examine ten biblical climaxes, including Mary’s betrothal to Joseph, the Annunciation, the scene at the foot of the Cross, and Pentecost. In these scenes, Marge Fenelon introduces readers to a Mary who faced challenges familiar to every mother–impatience, frustration, sacrifice, and grief–and demonstrates how, in the face of these ordinary obstacles, Mary’s response was an extraordinary example through the virtues of patience, joy, trust, and faith. Imitating Mary is valuable for moms of all ages, but also for the men in their lives who love and minister to them, like their husbands and spiritual directors!

Paperback: 192 pages

Publisher: Ave Maria Press (April 22, 2013)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1594713642

ISBN-13: 978-1594713644

What folks are saying about Imitating Mary

“My relationship with my own mother has probably made it easier for me to fall in love with Mary, the mother of Jesus. That’s because I saw in Mom so many of the virtues of our Blessed Mother. In these pages, these Marian virtues will come to life for you, and before you know it, you will be letting Mary spiritually mother you.” —Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York

“Lovely and relevant–Imitating Mary is food for the mother’s soul! Marge Fenelon unpacks Mary’s virtuous role in Scripture and Church tradition and brilliantly puts it in language that modern-day mothers can identify with and readily apply to their lives. Simply beautiful!” —Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle, Author of Rooted in Love

“Imitating Mary is a book for mothers, but I, a man and a Jesuit priest, loved it. Through its personal stories, imaginative Gospel scenes, and reflection questions I came to better understand the vocation of motherhood and to enter more deeply into Mary’s heart.” —Rev. James Kubicki, S.J., Author of A Heart on Fire

“So often we look to Mary as a prayerful companion but gloss over the very real fact that she was a mother who knew all the joys and struggles of raising a child. Marge Fenelon, in her beautiful book Imitating Mary, invites us to experience our moments of motherhood through the prism of our Blessed Mother’s life.” —Mary DeTurris Poust, Author of Cravings

“Imitating Mary is THE Mary book moms of all stripes have been waiting for, though they might not have known it. Fenelon makes the Blessed Mother into a real person without subtracting any of her amazing qualities. You’ll want to read it, reread it, and share it with every mom you know.” —Sarah Reinhard, Author of A Catholic Mother’s Companion to Pregnancy

“We get so used to thinking of Mary as ‘Blessed Virgin’ or ‘Queen of Heaven’ or ‘Mother of God,’ we sometimes forget that she was also a real-live, flesh and blood mother of a real-live, flesh and blood child. In her latest book, Marge Fenelon vividly brings to life the Mary who had to tell Joseph she was pregnant, who faced scorn for being an unwed mother, who had to watch her son grow up, enter into his own life, and eventually die before her eyes. If you’ve ever had trouble relating to the Mary of icons and holy cards, Imitating Mary will give you insightful–and very practical–ways to allow Mary to help you become the best parent you can be.” —Woodeene Koenig-Bricker, Author of 365 Mary

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Quote of the Day

There's no vocabulary for love within a family, love that's lived in but not looked at, love within the light of which all else is seen, the love within which all other love finds speech. This love is silent.